Dumb Money

I have a long-time friend who, many years ago, started a modest business that exploded into a large empire within the wheel/tire market and consequently made him a millionaire. He went to my church and I even worked for him for over a decade. During that time I saw close up what money can (and can't) do to someone. He has a wise saying… “Mo” money, mo” problems” which sums up what happened to him. He found that being rich brings more unspoken expectations in other’s minds about you and your ability to help, to give, to gift, and to live in a certain way. Since he has become wealthy his relationship with some family members (including his mother) has disintegrated, he loses sleep with all the challenges of keeping all of his investments going, has regular anxiety, and is suspicious of anyone who wants to build a relationship. He wasn’t always like this. Mo” money, mo” problems indeed.

This seems to be an apt description of “Dumb Money,” a film based on real events directed by Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya,” “Cruella”) starring a large cast of talented actors that show what happens when money becomes the be-all end-all for not only the rich and powerful but for the everyday middle-class who team up to make a movement. It also highlights how money connects many different parties and entities together so when one side does good the other side loses billions, and conversely how the financial game is rigged for the powerful and elite.

There are many characters located in many places/situations to keep up with. This true-ish story is set during the pandemic and recounts the rise and fall of the Gamestop short-squeeze situation. The main character is Keith Gill, aka Roaring Kitty (played by a very sincere Paul Dano), a relatively unknown personality on Reddit who gives advice on stocks and trading from his basement. He and his wife (Shailene Woodley) live a very modest life close to his parents and pothead loser brother Kevin (Pete Davidson). Keith convinces his followers to buy Gamestop stock (simply because he likes the stock) after he sinks all of his savings into the first initial investment.

Other young Reddit users see the uptick effect of the Gamestop stock and decide to join in and create a short squeeze (massive immediate investments for one low-performing stock that leads to a market surge). We follow a few of these unprofessional investors like a nurse named Jenny (America Ferrera who plays the emotional heart of the movie), a GameStop clerk named Marcus (Anthony Ramos), and a pair of lesbian college kids named Harmony (Talia Ryder) and Riri (Myha'la Herrold). Each person has challenges and each person has a hope that making a fortune in the stock market will solve all their problems. Pretty soon a movement is created to buy Gamestop stock and hold onto it (not to sell) so everyone can become rich together. This is all orchestrated by Roaring Kitty’s meme heavy urgings to hold and wait.

On the other-side of the trading floor there are some rich and powerful opponents of this scheme: Seth Rogen as hedge-fund manager Gabe Plotkin who shorts the Gamestop stock to make a fortune on it’s failings but it backfires thanks to Gill’s antics. Plotkin losses billions in a short time and that brings his ex-boss Vincent D'Onofrio as the eccentric Steve Cohen, and Nick Offerman as insanely-rich Ken Griffin as the calvary to bail him out. So it’s the battle a few rich moneymen vs. The multitude of small time investors. During this fight we see people’s net worth vasalcate and tensions growing as those who really need the money fight the urge to cash out and pay their bills. We also see the machinations behind the scenes of how much power a few rich guys have to rig the system. There is also a good side story about Vlad Tenev (Sebastian Stan) who created the trading app Robinhood that most of the young people use to buy Gamestop stock and how Vlad betrays the concept of his app’s namesake. In the end we see the ones who made their riches, the ones who lost their riches, and the ones who lost what they didn’t even own.

The movie is shot pretty straightforward and tends to look drab, gray, and low lit (especially Gill’s house and nurse Jenny’s hospital) whereas the rich guys are seen via amazing sun-drenched shots and interiors. Craig Gillespe’s creative shots in “I, Tonya” are left behind for more of a simplistic style of storytelling which gives the movie a more documentary feel. The actors are all great (America Ferrera following up her “Barbie” role with another emotionally charged performance) and even Pete Davidson gives a few laughs. Paul Dano, always a favorite of mine with his crazy choices of acting, makes you want to root for him in every scene with his authenticity and hang-dog expressions.

That said, this movie is pervasive in it’s language. I call upon the “Goodfellas Rule” where if it gets past 50 F-bombs you can stop counting the curse words. You know if you are going to have the tolerance or not based on that standard. There are several GDs as well. There is kissing and petting done by the starring lesbian couple as well as a shot of male nudity (backside) as two men run naked. There is lots of alcohol and drug usage plus riotous partying.

“Dumb Money” shows how being hyper-focused on money can harm your life by making you a different person, as well as add a whole new set of stressors. I have always seen Proverbs 30:8-9 as being a key in my attitude towards money…

”Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Having seen many people who were strong believers and church-going Christians “make it big” and fall away from church going and even from the faith. Just like Paul said,

“Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” —1 Timothy 6:10

The solution to this is to be content (the state of being mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are) with what God has given you for the time you have it, for Paul says,

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” —Philippians 4:12

Living with our hands open for God to give or take from us as He sees best is much better than living with the closed fist of squeezing tight around the stuff in our lives as it seeps out our fingers. And good news! If we live with contentment we can avoid the reality my rich friend has had for his life, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems” as we go from a lifestyle of “dumb money” to “smart living.”

• Vulgar/Crude language: Extreme
• Drugs/Alcohol: Heavy
• Wokeism: Heavy
• Profane language: Moderately Heavy
• Nudity: Moderate
• Sex: Moderate
• Violence: Minor
• Occult: None

Learn about DISCERNMENT—wisdom in making personal entertainment decisions

Every time you buy a movie ticket or buy or rent a video you are in effect casting a vote telling Hollywood, “I’ll pay for that. That’s what I want.” Read our article

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.